Cricket 1912

52 CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. M a r . 30, 1912. He played against both Willsher’s Team in 1868 and Mr. R . A. Fitzgerald’s in 1872, and was a member of the Philadelphian team which won the cup in the Halifax (Nova Scotia) Tournament of 1874. F.F.K . M r. R o b e r t O w e n S h e r id a n , born in Philadelphia on May 18, 1885, died there in January of this year. He was an active member of the Philadelphia 0.0 ., averaging 16‘ 10 per innings for their Cup team in 1911, and took 19 wickets at 1O'84 each. He had intended visiting England w ith the side the club is sending this season. F.F.K . M r. S a m u e l H o s f o r d died at Ridgewood, New Jersey, on January 11, aged 75. H e was an Irishman by birth, but had lived for many years in the States, and was for over 30 years connected with the Manhattan O.C. of Brooklyn, which he captained at one time. In later days he was four times elected as President of the Club. F.F.K . Landmarks of Cricket in North America. It must be clearly understood that in the rough notes and jottings which follow there is no intention of giving, or attempting to give, a complete history of the game in the northern half of the western hemisphere. Many items of interest to add to those offered will, the writer hopes, be sent along by some who read these fragments, and the result, when completed, may be something that will prove of use to the future historian of the game in America. Will readers please note that we shall be glad to hear from them, and that any information they favour us with will be carefully collated with a view to future use ? The original intention of the compiler was to deal with the United States and Canada separately. This scheme has been abandoned, because cricket intercourse between the two countries has been so constant that to separate them was found to lead to unnecessary repetition and endless overlapping. Some things are left out owing to lack of details, others because they do not appear of sufficient importance for inclusion. It has not been found practicable to tell just when the game was first introduced into the various states and cities of the Union and the Dominion ; but any information on that point will be heartily welcomed. A legend exists that the Dutch of New Amsterdam (later New York) knew and practised the game. Frankly, we don’t believe it, and those may who will. The earliest genuine records appear to b e :— 1751.—Eleven of New York played Eleven of London (Query—eleven Londoners resident in or visiting New York?) at New York. New York scored 81 and 86 against London’s 43 and 37, winning by 87 runs. 1754.— Bradford’s Journal advertised a cricket match between Annapolis and Prince George’s County, but no particulars of the match have come down to us. 1809.—A pamphlet was issued containing “ Bye-laws for the Government of the Boston Cricket Club,” pointing clearly to the practice of the game in the Quaker City over a century ago. 1819.—The Viceroy of Canada (the Duke of Richmond, formerly the Hon. Charles Lennox, a well-known cricketer in England) played “ cricket and rackets with the officers of the garrison ” at Kingston. This must be considered the first record of the game in Canada, though MSixty years of Canadian Cricket ” gives on one page “ about 1825 ” and on another “ about 18*29 ” as the date of its introduction there. 1831 (about).—The game was first played at Philadelphia by English residents. 1834.—First match in Canada of which the score is extant—Guelph v. Toronto. John Combe Wilson, a brother of Sir Archdale Wilson, the defender of Lucknow, made top score—48 not out. 1836.—The game began to be played at Haverford College, U.S.A. 1836.—And also at Upper Canada College (nursery of so many good Canadian cricketers), Toronto. 1838.—What was stated to be the first regular match ever played in New York (but see under date 1751) took place between Sheffield (79 and 83) and Nottingham (21 and 23), the players obviously being Englishmen, one and all. 1838.—New York played Long Island, a little after the date of this last match. 1840 (about).—St. George’s Club (N.Y.) formed. 1840.—A New York team visited Toronto, and beat the local side. 1842.—Union Club (Philadelphia) formed by Robert E . Waller, an Englishman who was one of the pioneers of cricket in the U.S. 1843.— Star Club of Brooklyn, Junior Club (Philadelphia) and the first Germantown (Philadelphia) Club all formed. But i Philadelphia cricket failed to take lasting root at this period. 1843.— St. George’s Club visited Toronto, but, as they included three Philadelphians in their team, the Toronto players refused to meet them. A scratch eleven of Guelph and Upper Canada College played and beat the St. George’s men. 1843 (later).—Toronto visited New York and beat St. George’s Club by 4 wickets. 1844.—First recorded century in a match in U .S .—James Turner, a Sheffield saw-maker, 120 for Union Club (Philadelphia) v. St. George’s (New York) at Camden, New Jersey. (But Mr. W. R. Wister puts on record in his Reminiscences that Joseph Bicker- staff, who worked at the Wakefield Hosiery Mills, Philadelphia, once made 130 not out in a single innings. Presumably this was in a practice game, but it seems to have been anterior to Turner’s score, and certainly deserves mention). 1844.—First match between Canada and United States, at New York. Canada (82 and 63) won by 23 runs (U.S. 64 and 58). Chad­ wick’s ‘ ‘ American Cricketer’s Manual ” recognises no match before that of 1853 as an international; but later authorities (if Chadwick can be called an authority) adopt 1844 as the date of initiation of these games. 1845.—D. Winckworth scored 81 for Toronto v. Cobourg, probably the highest individual score in Canada up to that date. 1845. —Canada (80 and 135) beat U.S. (79 and 75) at Montreal by 61 runs. It was twelve years before Canada’s second innings’ total was passed in one of these matches. 1845.—Return at New York. Canada (82 and 60 for 8 wickets) beat U.S. (49 and 93) by 2 wickets. In each of these matches Captain Hornby, of the 52nd Regiment, made the highest individual score for Canada. 1816.—The Union and Junior Clubs of Philadelphia, which shared a ground, both dissolved, and cricket in the City of Brotherly Love almost lapsed for a time. 1846.—An unfortunate dispute in the match between Canada (28 and 13 for 3 wickets) and U. S. (57) at New York led to the games being abandoned, and there was not another match until 1853. 1847.—Another Germantown Club, which struggled on till 1851, formed at Philadelphia. 1847.—The famous Hamilton (Ontario) Club formed. But Hamilton had played matches before this. 1847.—First match between Upper Canada College (Past and Present) and the Province, for years one of the principal events of the Canadian season. 1818.— H. J. Maddock, playing for Toronto, took all ten wickets of a Rifle Brigade eleven at a cost of only 16 runs. 1849.—Toronto made 218 v. Montreal, Heward scoring 58 not out, Sams 52, and B. Parsons 51. Probably the record aggregate made in North America to that date. 1849.—Milwaukee played a Chicago eleven at Milwaukee, and a general holiday was proclaimed on the day of the match, of which Abraham Lincoln is said to have been a spectator. 1851.—J. O. Heward, the best Canadian batsman of that day, carried his bat through the innings of Toronto v. the Garrison, for 74 of a total of 137. 1852. —In a match between Toronto and an Army Eleven, Mr. Denne, R.A., aggregated 86 (34 and 52) for one side, and Heward 65 (58 and 7 not out) for the other. 1853.—Cricket woke to new life in Philadelphia. Tom Senior, the first regular pro. employed there, was engaged. Philadelphia met the New York Club, but was beaten by 10 wickets. 1853.—Matches between Canada and U.S. resumed. U.S. (62 and 71) beat Canada (45 and 54) by 34 runs at New York. Comery ■ took 13 wickets for U.S. The highest score for Canada was 15 by W. Pickering, a member of the famous cricket family, who died in British Columbia, in his 86th year, August, 1905. (To be continued.) THE AMERICAN CRICKETER. F ounded 1877. Published by H. H. Cornish on behalf of The Associated Cricket Clubs of Philadelphia. An Illustrated Journal of Cricket, Association Football, Tennis, Golf, and Kindred Pastimes. No. 608, Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa., U.S.A. prick — 18/- per annum, post paid anywhere. Specimen copies mailed on request.